I’m not a parent, so I’ve been completely unaware that there’s something called “Elf on the Shelf”. Now however I know it comes from a 2004 children’s book that explains just how Santa keeps track of who’s been naughty and who’s been nice. (A scout elf keeps watch on children throughout the year like a yuletide secret police, if you’re curious.) The book spawned plush toys named after it that have (apparently) become something of a modern Holiday tradition, which is cool…